The Bengaluru leg of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 came to a thrilling close on March 1, with Delhi Capitals registering a thumping nine-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The Bengaluru leg had it all – the first ever WPL super-over, stunning catches, a hat-trick, a joint-fastest fifty and some impressive debuts.
As the dust settles on the Bengaluru leg, which ran from February 21 to March 1, the team standings reveal some surprising trends. Despite being the home team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru failed to secure a single win, losing all four of their matches.
Delhi Capitals sit atop the points table with three wins from four matches, having become the first team to qualify for the playoffs. Mumbai Indians won two of their three matches and UP Warriorz who failed to open their account at Vadodara also won two. Gujarat Giants secured one victory out of their two matches.
Delhi Capitals began the Bengaluru leg with a 33-run loss to UP Warriorz despite Jess Jonassen’s 4 wicket haul and Jemimah Rodrigues’ quickfire 56. However, they bounced back strongly, winning the next three matches on the trot. Delhi defeated Gujarat by 6 wickets, with Jess Jonassen scoring 61 off 32 and Shafali Verma contributing with a 44.
Capitals then secured back-to-back 9 wicket victories against inaugural champions Mumbai Indians and defending champions RCB. Against Mumbai, they restricted them to 123, with Jonassen picking up 3 wickets. Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma had laid the strong foundation for an easy chase. The same match also witnessed a moment of brilliance from Annabel Sutherland, who took a breathtaking catch to dismiss Amelia Kerr, hailed by many as catch of the season.
In their match against RCB, Delhi restricted the hosts to 147, and Verma’s unbeaten 80 led the team to a convincing 9 wicket victory.
Mumbai Indians, second on the points table with 6 points, started strong in Bangalore. The defeated RCB by 4 wickets, thanks to Amanjot Kaur’s 3-wicket haul and a brilliant partnership between Nat-Sciver Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur. Carrying on their momentum, they defeated UP Warriorz by 8 wickets as Nat-Sciver Brunt starred with 75 runs and 3 wickets. However, it was Delhi Capitals who halted their winning streak and handed them a heavy 9 wicket defeat. Mumbai’s batting unit stumbled to 123 and their bowlers failed to pick up wickets.
UP Warriorz, third on the points table with 4 points and a superior NRR, finally found their footing in the Bengaluru leg. After a winless Vadodara leg, they began with a 33-run victory over Delhi Capitals, courtesy to Chinelle Henry’s joint fastest fifty, Kranti Goud’s 4 wicket haul and Grace Harris’ hat-trick. Their match against RCB was a nail-biter with Sophie Ecclestone’s 33 off 19 balls taking the match to a super over, which UP won by defending 8 runs. However, they faced defeat in their last match at Bengaluru, losing by 8 wickets to Mumbai despite good performances from Grace Harris and Vrinda Dinesh.
Royal Challengers Bangalore, currently fourth on the points table with 4 points, endured a dismal Bengaluru leg, failing to win a single match as hosts. Their series of losses began with a 4-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians, followed by a super-over defeat to UP-Warriorz, a 6-wicket to loss to Gujarat Giants and a 9-wicket thrashing by Delhi Capitals. Throughout this dismal run, Ellyse Perry was the lone warrior, scoring 81 runs off 43 balls against Mumbai, an unbeaten 90 against UP and a 60 not out against DC. This leg will be one RCB would like to forget, despite their supporters turning out in huge numbers.
Gujarat Giants are last on the points table and had a mixed Bengaluru leg. They began with a 6-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals, despite Bharati Fulmali’s impressive 40* off 29 balls and Kashvee Gautam’s 2 wickets. However, they bounced back with a 6-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru, led by captain Ashleigh Gardner’s dominant 31-ball 58 and crucial wicket of Ellyse Perry.
As the Bengaluru leg drew to a close, the WPL 2025 bid adieu to the city, leaving behind a trail of thrilling matches and unforgettable moments. The tournament now shifts gears and heads to Lucknow for the business end of the competition. The action resumes on March 3rd with a mouth-watering clash between hosts UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants at Ekana Cricket Stadium.
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